Night vision goggle system and apparatus

Abstract

In an embodiment, a goggle helmet mount, includes: a helmet block attachable to a helmet; a chassis including a battery pack case configured to house a battery, and being rotatably coupled to the helmet block such that the chassis is rotatably positionable in a lowered position and in a raised position; and an electrical path electrically coupled to the battery pack case.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A goggle helmet mount, comprising:
 a helmet block attachable to a helmet; 
 a chassis comprising a battery pack case configured to house a battery, and being rotatably coupled to the helmet block such that the chassis is rotatably positionable in a lowered position and in a raised position, the battery pack case being elongated along an axis, and oriented such that the axis extends from an aft end of the battery pack case proximal to the helmet block toward a fore end of the battery pack case distal to the helmet block; and an electrical path electrically coupled to the battery pack case. 
 
     
     
       2. The goggle helmet mount of  claim 1 , wherein the battery pack case is an integrally formed part of the chassis. 
     
     
       3. The goggle helmet mount of  claim 1 , wherein the battery pack case is oriented such that the axis extends at least partly in an anterior direction. 
     
     
       4. The goggle helmet mount of  claim 3 , wherein the battery pack case is oriented such that the axis extends substantially entirely in the anterior direction in response to the chassis being in the lowered position. 
     
     
       5. The goggle helmet mount of  claim 1 , wherein the chassis comprises first and second arms extending from the helmet block, and the battery pack case is positioned between the first and second arms of the chassis. 
     
     
       6. The goggle helmet mount of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a magnet fixedly positioned relative to the helmet block; and 
 an electrical switch provided along the electrical path and positionable in an opened configuration, whereby the electrical path is broken at the electrical switch, and in a closed configuration, whereby the electrical path is unbroken across the electrical switch. 
 
     
     
       7. The goggle helmet mount of  claim 6 , wherein the magnet is a permanent magnet, the helmet block comprises the magnet, and the magnet is positioned to cause the electrical switch to be in the closed configuration in response to the chassis being in the lowered position, and to be in the opened configuration in response to the chassis being in the raised position. 
     
     
       8. The goggle helmet mount of  claim 1 , wherein the chassis is configured to attach to a goggle bridge at an attachment region of the chassis, and the electrical path extends between the battery pack case and the attachment region of the chassis. 
     
     
       9. The goggle helmet mount of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical path comprises a first wire electrically coupled to a first terminal end of the battery pack case, and a second wire electrically coupled to a second terminal end of the battery pack case opposite to the first terminal end,
 wherein at least a part of the first wire defines a first path that sequentially extends in a first direction substantially parallel to an elongation direction of the battery pack case between the first and second terminal ends of the battery pack case, bends backwards, and extends in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and 
 wherein at least part of the second wire defines a second path that sequentially extends in the first direction, bends backwards, and extends in the second direction. 
 
     
     
       10. The goggle helmet mount of  claim 9 , wherein the chassis is configured to attach to a fore/aft piece so that the chassis is linearly movable relative to the fore/aft piece along the first and second directions. 
     
     
       11. The goggle helmet mount of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical path comprises:
 a first electrical connection defining a first part of the electrical path electrically coupled or couplable between a first terminal end of the battery pack case and a distal end of the first electrical connection; and 
 a second electrical connection defining a second part of the electrical path electrically coupled or couplable between a second terminal end of the battery pack case and a distal end of the second electrical connection, and 
 wherein:
 the first and second electrical connections respectively comprise first and second wires that are electrically exposed at the distal ends of the first and second electrical connections; or 
 the first and second electrical connections respectively comprise first and second electrical pogo pins at the distal ends of the first and second electrical connections. 
 
 
     
     
       12. An integrated goggle helmet mount system comprising:
 the goggle helmet mount of  claim 1 ; and 
 a goggle bridge configured to attach to at least one goggle, 
 wherein the chassis is integrally attached to the helmet block, and integrally attached to the goggle bridge, and 
 wherein the electrical path extends from the chassis and through at least part of the goggle bridge. 
 
     
     
       13. The integrated goggle helmet mount system of  claim 12 , further comprising a fore/aft piece that is integrally attached to the chassis and to the goggle bridge,
 wherein the chassis is linearly movable relative to the fore/aft piece, and 
 wherein the electrical path extends through the fore/aft piece. 
 
     
     
       14. The integrated goggle helmet mount system of  claim 12 , wherein the electrical path is configured to be coupled between, or couplable between, the battery pack case and a goggle attachment region of the goggle bridge where the goggle bridge is configured to attach to a goggle of the at least one goggle. 
     
     
       15. A goggle helmet mount, comprising:
 a helmet block attachable to a helmet; 
 a chassis coupled to the helmet block, and comprising a battery pack case configured to house a battery, the battery pack case being elongated along an axis, and oriented such that the axis extends from an aft end of the battery pack case proximal to the helmet block toward a fore end of the battery pack case distal to the helmet block; and 
 an electrical path electrically coupled to the battery pack case. 
 
     
     
       16. The goggle helmet mount of  claim 15 , wherein the battery pack case is oriented such that the axis extends substantially entirely in an anterior direction. 
     
     
       17. The goggle helmet mount of  claim 15 , wherein the chassis comprises first and second arms extending from the helmet block, and the battery pack case is positioned between the first and second arms of the chassis. 
     
     
       18. The goggle helmet mount of  claim 15 , wherein the chassis is rotatably coupled to the helmet block such that the chassis is rotatably positionable in a lowered position and in a raised position, and
 wherein the battery pack case is oriented such that the axis extends at least partly, or substantially entirely, in an anterior direction when the chassis is in the lowered position. 
 
     
     
       19. The goggle helmet mount of  claim 18 , further comprising an electrical switch provided along the electrical path and positionable in an opened configuration, whereby the electrical path is broken at the electrical switch, and in a closed configuration, whereby the electrical path is unbroken across the electrical switch,
 wherein the helmet block comprises a magnet positioned to cause the electrical switch to be in the closed configuration in response to the chassis being in the lowered position, and to be in the opened configuration in response to the chassis being in the raised position. 
 
     
     
       20. An integrated goggle helmet mount system comprising:
 the goggle helmet mount of  claim 15 ; and 
 a goggle bridge configured to attach to at least one goggle, 
 wherein the chassis is integrally attached to the helmet block, and integrally attached to the goggle bridge, and 
 wherein the electrical path extends from the chassis and at least partially through the goggle bridge. 
 
     
     
       21. The integrated goggle helmet mount system of  claim 20 , further comprising a fore/aft piece that is integrally attached to the goggle bridge and to the chassis,
 wherein the chassis is linearly movable relative to the fore/aft piece. 
 
     
     
       22. A goggle helmet mount, comprising:
 a helmet block attachable to a helmet; 
 a chassis comprising a battery pack case configured to house a battery, and rotatably coupled to the helmet block such that the chassis is rotatably positionable in a lowered position and in a raised position, the battery pack case being elongated along an axis, and oriented such that the axis extends from an aft end of the battery pack case proximal to the helmet block toward a fore end of the battery pack case distal to the helmet block; 
 an electrical path electrically coupled to the battery pack case; 
 an electrical switch provided along the electrical path and positionable in an opened configuration, whereby the electrical path is broken at the electrical switch, and in a closed configuration, whereby the electrical path is unbroken across the electrical switch; and 
 a magnet configured to cause the electrical switch to be in the closed configuration in response to the chassis being in the lowered position, and to be in the opened configuration in response to the chassis being in the raised position. 
 
     
     
       23. The goggle helmet mount of  claim 22 , further comprising a magnetic flux conductor configured to cause the electrical switch to be in one of the opened or closed configurations in response to receiving a magnetic flux through a first surface greater than a magnetic flux threshold, and to cause the electrical switch to be in the other one of the opened or closed configurations in response to receiving a magnetic flux through the first surface below the magnetic flux threshold. 
     
     
       24. The goggle helmet mount of  claim 22 , wherein the magnet is fixedly positioned relative to the helmet block. 
     
     
       25. The goggle helmet mount of  claim 22 , wherein the chassis comprises first and second arms extending substantially in an anterior direction, and the battery pack case is positioned between the first and second arms of the chassis. 
     
     
       26. The goggle helmet mount of  claim 22 , wherein the electrical path is at least partially electrically insulated from an exterior of the goggle helmet mount. 
     
     
       27. The goggle helmet mount of  claim 22 , wherein the chassis is attachable to a goggle bridge at an attachment region of the chassis, and the electrical path is electrically couplable between the battery pack case and the attachment region. 
     
     
       28. A goggle helmet mounting system, comprising:
 a helmet mount attachable to a helmet; 
 a goggle bridge attachable to at least one goggle; and 
 a connection device, the connection device comprising:
 a connection block, wherein a dovetail socket is defined in the connection block at least in part by a primary surface and two sidewalls extending from opposite sides of the primary surface, and wherein a protrusion opening is defined in one of the two sidewalls, and 
 a steadying piece provided in the protrusion opening and configured to be in a relaxed state, whereby a protruding piece of the steadying piece protrudes from the protrusion opening into the dovetail socket, and in a receded state, whereby the protruding piece of the steadying piece is at least partially pressed into the protrusion opening in response to a force applied to the steadying piece from the dovetail socket, 
 
 wherein the connection device is attached or attachable to one of the helmet mount or the goggle bridge, and the other one of the helmet mount or the goggle bridge comprises a dovetail piece shaped and sized to be inserted into the dovetail socket, and 
 wherein the steadying piece is configured to be pressed into the receded state by the dovetail piece in response to the dovetail piece being inserted into the dovetail socket. 
 
     
     
       29. The connection device of  claim 28 , further comprising one or more springs positioned in the protrusion opening and coupled to the steadying piece to force the protruding piece of the steadying piece out from the protrusion opening and into the dovetail socket in response to the steadying piece being in the relaxed state.